May 24, 2009
OK, so there is one time you shouldn’t use they/them/their as a singular pronoun.
Don’t go gender neutrally referring to a pregnant lady’s baby as “them.”
Because, no, she isn’t having multiples, thank you very much.
* * *
Related:
• Masculine nouns can be gender neutral.
• 3 pronoun options for replacing singular they.
• A grammar book said this sentence is correct.
* * * * *
How ’bout “it”?
that is stinkin’ funny.
LOL! This is hilarious! How did I know our conversation would end up in one of your blog posts?! I wasn’t offended…ok, well maybe a little! j/k!
I can imagine that would be offensive, somewhat. I have often felt the awkwardness of not knowing what to call someone’s unborn child. “It” isn’t exactly the greatest term either.
Am I the only one here that is now wondering if the pregnant lady is your wife?
I’ll stop wondering, but the “thank you very much” seemed too personal…but maybe that filled the 22 quota perfectly. :)
bean,
it’s not. it’s the third commenter.
and we all knew “it” is a “he”. tisk, tisk, abraham.
too true!
(and that’s why pragmatics > syntax OR semantics!)
But as long as you know what they mean, it doesn’t matter, right? Right?
Excuse me? Did you use the word “should” relating to grammar? Who gave you such authority? You’ve flung wide the door! You’ve given a foothold to the grammar fascists! :)
:) I’d say it is best that men do not reference anything about a pregnant woman, unless it is their wife, and even then I’d be careful!